Feeler mechanism for looms



F. LACEY. FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS. APPLICATION FILED IXUG. 19, I9I9.

1,362,1 12 Patented Dec. 14, 192

Invanf'or: A1440)??? UNITED STATES PATENT creme..

FIRED LACEY, 0F LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNQR TO DRAPER CORPORATION, OF HOPEDALE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 14, 1920.

Application filed August 19, 1919. Serial No. 318,470.

Toa-ZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRED LAcEY, a citizen of the United States, residin at Lowell, in the county of Middlesex and tate of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler Mechanism for Looms, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification,

like characters on the drawings representing movement longitudinally of the shuttle, and is held from such movement by. engagement with the filling in the shuttle when a working supply is present, but is given such movement when the filling has become sub.

stantially exhausted. In this type of feeler looms, the movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle is utilized in operatively relating a train of mechanism which effects replenishment of filling when the shuttle reaches the filling replenishing side of the loom. It has been proposed heretofore to mount the feeler for movement;

toward and from the front of the loom on each detecting beat under the yielding action 1 of a spring, and to impart to the feeler itsmovement longitudinally of the shuttle by another spring actuated means which becomes efi'ective when the filling has reached substantial exhaustion.

The present invention relates to this general type of so-called side swipe feeler -mechanisms, and hasfor one ofits objects to simplify the construction and create in the feeler mechanism a more sensitive indication of the presence or substantial, absence of filling. An important feature of the invention in this respect, consists of a spring impelled yielding member which acts upon the feeler to maintain it in its rearward or feeling position with permissive movement frontwardly on a detecting beat, and to effect movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling 1s substantially exhausted.

In carrying this feature of the invention into practical effect, the feeler is mounted for reciprocating movement toward and from the front of the loom under control of an arm or moving member which has a bearing on opposite sides of the central longitudinal axis of the feeler when the feeler is in its rearward or feeling position, and a bearing against the feeler at one side of its longitudinalaxis' when the feeler is moved frontwardly by the filling on a detecting beat, the effect being that the moving member hereinbefore referred to, acts in a dual capacity, first to yieldingly maintain the feeler in its rearward feeling position, and when the feeler is moved frontwardly to act upon the feeler with a force tending to move it in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle. These general characteristics of the invention may be embodied in different forms of mechanical parts.

Other features of the invention and novel combination of parts will be hereinafter described in addition to the above, and then the novel features of the invention will be defined by the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of one side of a loom having the present invention associated therewith, some of the parts being omitted for clearness of illustration; and

F igJ- 2 is a detached detail plan view showing the action of the feeler when the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting eat. I r

The loom frame 1 may be of usual construction, and has secured thereto the brackets 2; one at each side of the loom frame for supporting ,the transverse or rock shaft 3 which is normally under the influence of a spring (not shown), for moving it contraclockwise (Fig. 1). Secured to and rising from the transverse shaft 3 is an arm 4 to which is pivotally connected at 5 the arm 6, which for identification will hereinafter be termed the actuator. The rearward end portion 7 of the actuator is adapted at times to be engaged by an actuating member 8 which may be either the weft hammer or cam follower, or a part connected thereto. In the present instance, the operating member 8 is connected to the Weft hammer or cam follower and has a shouldered portion 9 adapted to engage the end 7 of the actuator 6 when the latter is moved into the path of movement of the shoulder 9. On the occurrence of frontward movement of the actuator 6 by the operating member 8, a train of mechanism is set in operation for effecting replenishment of filling, as common in this type of looms.

The lay 10 is provided with the usual shuttie-box 11 for the reception of the shuttle 12 which carries the filling or weft thread, and the front wall of the shuttle-box is slotted at 13 to register with a slot 14 in the wall of the shuttle, when the latter is in the detecting box, the construction being such that the feeler, to be hereinafter described, may enter the shuttle and feel for the filling.

The shipper stand 15 has adjustably secured thereto by means such as the bolts 16, a bracket 17 carrying a feeler stand or support 18. In the present instance of-theinvention, the feeler carrier or support 18 is formed as a plate rigidly with the bracket 17.. but various forms of feeler carriers are now well known in the art, and may be employed instead of the construction described for supporting the feeler.

Rising from the feeler stand or carrier 18 at its rear portion is a lug 19 having a slot 2O extending transversely of the feeler carrier or stand 18, through which slot passes the feeler 20, the rear engaging end portion of which at 21 is provided with teeth for engagement with the surface within the shuttle on each detecting beat.

The feeler carrier or stand is provided with a slot 22 extending longitudinally thereof or in a direction from front to rear relative to the loom, and the feeler 20 is provided with a pin'23 which extends into the slot 22 and serves to guide the feeler in its movements toward and from the front of the loom, and also has a pivot about the axis of which the feeler 20 may be swung or moved in a direction of the shuttle within the limits of the slot 20 hereinbefore described. The pin 23 may have a roller connected to its lower end for decreasing the friction incident to the movement of the feeler in its reciprocating movements.

The feeler 20 is provided with a rigid,

portion which extends laterally from the feeler to each side of the central longitudinal axis of the feeler. In the present instance of the invention, the rigid portion is formed as wings 24, 25, one offlwhich extends to the right, and the other of which extends to the left of the longitudinal central axisof the feeler member. The wings 24, 25 may be secured rigidly to the feeler in any suitable manner, but as shown, they are mounted upon the pin 23 and secured rigidly thereto, the construction being such that the wings 24, 25 and the feeler 20 move as a rigid unit. Pivotally mounted at 26 at one side of. the path of the feeler as it moves toward and from the front of the loom, is' the feeler moving member, which acts to move the feeler rearwardly into feeling position, and when the feeler is moved frontwardly, tends to turn the feeler about the pin or axis 23 as a center in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle. In-the present instance of the invention, the feeler moving member comprises a lever 27 pivoted at 26 to the bracket 17, and has the two bearing portions 28 and 29, one of which bears upon the wing 24 at one side of the central longitudinal'axis 0 they feeler, and the other bears upon the wing 25 on the opposite side of the longitudinal central axis of the feeler, the portion between the bearing points 28 and 29 being preferably formed curved as at 30 to escape contact with the roundedv portion 31 of the sleeve on which the wings 24 and 25 are formed. v

The feeler moving member or lever 27 is extended beyond its pivotal mounting 26 and is provided with 'a series of notches 32 which may be engaged by the end 33 of an actuating spring 34, the other end 35 of which may be connected to a pin 36 rising from the bracket 7, the construction being such that. the spring 34 normally acts to maintain the feeler in its rearward position with permissive movement frontwardly on each detecting beat.

The feeler moving member 27 extends transversely of the path of reciprocation of the feeler 20, and when the feeler is in its.

rearward position, the bearing points 28 and 29 of the feeler moving member bear equally upon the wings 24 and 25, thereby maintainin the feeler in its rearward and lateral fee ing position. When, however, the feeler 20 is moved frontwardly on a detesting beat, the point 29 bearing upon the wing 25 will tend to move the feeler in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle and about the axis 23 as a center.

iVhen a working supply of filling is present in the shuttle, the toothed engaging end 21 of the feeler 20 will engage the filling on a detecting beat, and prevent movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle by the feeler moving member as the lay beats up. If, however, the filling is substantially exhausted on a detecting beat, the feeler 20 will again be moved frontwardly, and the bearing 29 against the wing 25 will cause the feeler to be moved in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle.

This movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle is utilized to operatively position the actuator and its operating member 8. In the present instance, the feeler 20 I details of the mechanical means employed for carrying the invention into practical effect, but the (onstruetion described is found to be a good practical embodiment of the invention.

iVhat is claimed is 1. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a feeler stand having a rear bearing relative to which the feeler is movable longitudinally and later- I ally and provided with a longitudinal slot,

the feeler having a pin engagement with said slot to permit the feeler to move longltudinally and swing laterally, wings extending from the feeler, a pivotally mounted lever having its end portion bearing on said wings at each side of the central longitudinal axis of the feeler, a spring acting upon the lever to move the feeler rearwardly and tending to turn it laterally as the feeler moves front wardly on a detecting beat, and means for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler moves laterally.

2. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from such movement on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, means for effecting replenishment of fillingwhen the feeler is moved longitudinally of the shuttle, wings secured to the feeler and extending on opposite sides of its central longitudinal axis, and a spring actuatedmoving member bearing upon each of said wings when the feeler is in rearward position and acting on saidwings as the feeler is moved frontwardly to move the feeler longitudinally. of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted.

3. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for. movement longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from such movement on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, means for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler is moved longitudinally of the shuttle, wings secured to the feeler and extending on opposite sides of its central longitudinal axis, a lever pivoted at a fixed point and having portions bearing upon the wings when the feeler is in its rearward position and movable about its pivot by the feeler as it moves frontwardly on a deteLting beat and tending at such, time to move the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle.

4. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is movable toward and from the front of the loom and mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle when the'filling is substantially exhausted, means rendered effective to replenish the filling when the feeler is moved longitudinally of the shuttle, a swinging arm bearing upon the feeler at each side of its longitudinal centralaxis when in feeling position, a spring acting upon said arm to, move the feeler to its rearward position and yielding as the feeler, moves frontwardly on a detecting beat to shift the hearing of the arm againstthe feeler to one side of its longitudinal central axis when a working supply of filling is present and effect movement-of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substan tially, exhausted.

5. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is movable toward and from the front of the loom and mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted, means rendered effective to replenish the filling when the feeler is moved longitudinally of the shuttle, a lateral rojection extending from the feeler, a yielding arm having a bearing against the lateral projection at each side of the longitudinal central axis of the feeler and movable by the feeler as it moves frontwardly to cause the bearing of the yielding arm to effect movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially ex hausted.

6. In a feeler mechanism, the combination of a feeler stand, a feelerhaving a sliding -and pivotal connection with the feeler stand, wings extending to each side of the longitudinal axis of the feeler. a lever pivotally supported on the stand laterally of the feeler and having an arm that bears upon both wings of the feeler when it is in rearward position, and a spring acting upon the lever to exert a force through the lever on one of the wings to effect movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the feeler is moved frontwardly on a detecting beat and the filling is substantially exhausted.

7. In -a feeler mechanism for looms. the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from such movement on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof. an arm l ear ing upon the feeler at each side'of the longitudinal central axis .thereof when the feeler is in its feeling position. and mov able'by the feeler as it moves frontwardly to shift the bearing of the arm against the feeler to one side of said longitudinal axis and impart a tendency for the feeler to move in a direction longitudinally of the shuttle.

8. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination'of a feeler that is mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from such movement on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, an arm pivoted at one side of the path of the feeler and bearing upon the feeler at each side of the central longitudinal axis thereof when it is in rearward position, and a spring permitting said pivoted arm'to be swung by the feeler as it moves'frontwardly to shift the bearing of the arm to one side of the central longitudinal axis of the feeler.

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from such movement on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, means for effecting replenishment of filling when the feeler is moved longitudinally of the shuttle,

means a moving member bearing against the feeler at each side of its central longitudinal axis, and a spring causing the moving member to return the feeler to feeling position after a detecting beat and acting through the moving member to effect movement of the feeler longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted.

10. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler that is mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle and is held from such movement on a detecting beat by engagement with the filling until substantial exhaustion thereof, means for efi'ecting replenishment of filling when the feeler is moved longitudinally of the shuttle, a yielding unitary feeler moving member which bears upon the feeler at opposite sides of its longitudinal center and acting (1) to move-the feeler member to feeling position and (2) to move it longitudinally of the shuttle when the filling is substantially exhausted.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specifiaction.

FRED LACEY. 

